OutThere chatted to Team Extreme about their South Pole expedition. Here’s what they said

What was the highlight/lowlight of the trip – the experience you’ll always remember?

Alex Harris: The lowlight was without a doubt the massive front that snowed for 8 days. We had soft snow and whiteout conditions where we could not see anything but our skis. The highpoint, other than arriving at the pole was passing 85 degrees. This was halfway in distance and was a huge psychological advantage knowing there was now more behind us than in front of us.

Sibusisu Vilane: The overall achievement of the expedition. You’d think that walking unsupported, in freezing conditions, to the south pole, would be a tough enough task, but what people don’t realise is that there are hundreds of things to organise and deal with before you even get started. When it was all over and we’d achieved what we’d set out to do, that was the absolute best part for me!

Did you ever feel you’d never make it?

AH: Often, especially in the first half of the trip where many things went wrong. Strong wind pinned us down in the tent for 6 days. Then on day 4 a massive front hit when we were situated around the 83 to 85 degree mark. My ski broke within the first week, and I also got frostbite on my inner thigh within the first week.

SV: Quite a few times. But you get this overriding ambition to succeed – it’s something you really, really want so you jest keep on going.

How did you guys train?

AH: One year before the expedition we went down to Antarctica for a month. We climbed mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest mountain, then spent some time skiing familiarising ourselves with the wind and cold. The first half of the year we focused on general training and fitness. For me this meant track and road cycling, mountain biking, gym and running. Then from June we began the specific training. This involved puling tires strapped to our sled harness. This is the main way people train for polar trips.

If the going gets really tough, who/what would what motivates you to get out in one piece?

SV: On this expedition, there were three things: The first was that I really wanted to succeed – as simple as that. Secondly, I wanted the Freeplay Foundation to get maximum benefit (one of the charities Sibu is involved with that promotes access to radio broadcasting in rural and remote areas through their wind-up and solar powered ‘Lifeline’ radios). Thirdly, while we were on the expedition, my daughter became ill. And at one stage I thought she was going to go. She was so sick for a month and I couldn’t be there for her so I really struggled emotionally through that period. I made a pact with myself to succeed at all costs for her sake.

AH: My faith as a Christian and my belief that God has called me to this life and this season so He will see me through.

Which other adventurers inspire you and why?

AH: Douglas Mawson and Earnest Shackleton for their unbelievable perseverance and unending commitment to their teams; Mike horn for his quiet determination; Felice Benuzzi, because of all the adventurers hearts, his was the purest.

SV: Sir Ranulph Fiennes – Fiennes is a remarkable adventurer and person, and I was lucky to have spent two months with him in 2005. Also, Norwegian explorer Borge Ousland, whom I shared a tent with on a previous Everest expedition. I learned so much from the guy – he has been an inspiration and mentor to me.

What now?(We’ve read that the next adventure is following in Thesiger’s footsteps across the Empty Quarter. Is that something you dreamt up as you were freezing in the Antarctic or what?

SV: Alex and myself have been doing some research on crossing the Empty Quarter in Arabia, unsupported. We’re definitely eyeing that one out!

AH: I am simply fed up with the cold. I want to go somewhere we’re there is no chance of frostbite. The desert has always fascinated me and I think it is a little-understood place, very different to the polar regions.

Mike Horn: x 8000 Expedition (summits G1 and G2)

You’d think that a man who has swum the full length of the Amazon, completed a solo circumnavigation of the globe and trekked to the North Pole in the middle of the arctic winter would be happy to hang up his hydrospeed and rest on his laurels. But you’d be wrong. In 2007 our homegrown hero turned his attention to high-altitude mountaineering, and in true Mike Horn style he didn’t opt for the wimp version. The challenge? To climb four 8 000 metre peaks back-to-back, without the aid of supplementary oxygen... the mountaineering equivalent of playing the All Blacks blindfolded, and beating them 100 – 0! Teaming up with experienced alpinists Jean Troillet, Olivier Roduit and Fred Roux, Horn successfully summitted two of the peaks – Gasherbrum I (8 068m) and Gasherbrum II (8 035m) – before high winds and heavy snow halted the expedition. A failure? We think not. While the team only completed half their objective, for perspective it’s worth noting that for most mountaineers, summiting one of these peaks – with the help of supplementary oxygen – is still considered an impressive achievement. Mike’s other achievements include his Amazon Expedition (6 month solo traverse of the South American continent – descending the Amazon River on a hydrospeed); Latitude Zero (the 18 month, solo, unpowered expedition around the world following the equator); Arktos (2 year and 3 month solo tour around the Arctic Circle without dogs or motor); North Pole Winter Expedition (2-month trek from Russia to the North Pole in the 24 hour darkness of the polar night, accompanied by Norwegian explorer, Borge Ousland).

Ray Chaplin: Unassisted ride across South Africa

It’s always hard to decide which of Ray Chaplin’s extraordinary adventures are most worthy of inclusion. But his epic, 41 day, 2 400km cycle across South Africa in May and June last year was significant not just because of the obstacles that he overcame, but also because of his goal to promote the use of non-motorised transport (and cyclist safety) to the South African public. Towing a small trailer behind his bicycle, Ray twisted his way along the scenic Route 62 until Port Elizabeth and then up the escarpment to Bloemfontein, before heading across to Johannesburg and Pretoria. With icy winds, pouring rain and long passes, the going was tough. When he finally arrived in Jo’burg, he finished off with a 57,5 hour, non-stop cycle. In these days of global warming, perhaps it should inspire us all to get on our bikes!

Zukiswa Matamo & Nomawethu Nika: From shack-life to summit

Zukiswa Matamo and Nomawethu Nika from Imizamo Yethu informal settlement in Cape Town, are still on track to achieve their goal of climbing the Seven Summits – the highest mountain on each continent. In 2007 they scaled the windy mountain, Aconcagua, in Argentina. At 6 962m, it is the highest mountain in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere. Zuki and Noma, both domestic workers, along with Evelina Tshabalala, who works for outdoor retailer Cape Union Mart, form part of the Isicongo project. Isicongo – Summit of the Mountain – will see the three women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds fulfil their dreams of conquering the world’s highest mountains, including Mount Everest.

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Pierre Carter: Paragliding off Aconcagua

Not content with climbing South America’s highest peak, Aconcagua, 6 962m, Pierre Carter decided to cap 2007 by paragliding off it’s summit. After waiting for seven hours for the right conditions he finally launched on New Year’s Eve – and not surprisingly jumping from nearly 7 000m left him breathless in every sense of the word, ‘I found the cold air (-30 degrees C) to be smooth and going up slowly. The summit looked surreal – it was beautiful’ After floating around for 25 minutes he felt the chill starting to set in and made a successful landing on the glacier at 5 800m close to his expeditions high camp. The next day, New Year’s Day, he went one better and with flying mate Guy Pitman launched at 5800m and flew up over and around Aconcagua for around 45 minutes reaching an altitude of around 7600m. Future plans paragliding off the summits of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mt Vinson, Mt McKinley and Carstensz Pyramid!

Thabang Skwambane: Cycling and walking the lonely road

After cycling, unsupported 5 458km from Jo’burg to the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, Thabang Skwambane climbed the highest mountain in Africa to raise awareness and financial support for The Lonely Road Foundation – a sub-Saharan African development charity, aiming to bring life, hope and opportunity to children in South Africa who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. Thabang’s journey and successful summit of the Uhuru Peak (5 895m) on Mount Kilimanjaro, was symbolic of the lives of children who grow up alone and unsupported through childhood and adolescence – a tough struggle.

River swimmers: Swimming the length of the Orange River

River swimmers: Swimming the length of the Orange River
In 2007 a team of South African swimmers completed the final leg of their quest to swim the full distance of the South African section of the Orange River. The four legs of the swim saw them swimming 1900 km from the Lesotho border to the sea. Andrew Chin, Ram Barkai and Cheryl Young; completed all four legs, Priscilla Neethling and Gavin Pike swam three of the sections while, Liz Webb, Jenny O Hanlon, Viv Brown; Hester Snyman, Lisa Greenstein, Kevin Ordman and Andrew Watt made up the rest of the team.

Kingsley Holgate- Africa Outside Edge Expedition

Kingsley Holgate: Africa Outside Edge Expedition
In May 2007, Kingsley Holgate and his team set out to succeed in a world first circumnavigation of the African continent in Land Rovers. Ever since, the expedition team have been going strong, and at the end of January 2008, had made their way to Casablanca in Morocco. All the while, the team have carried a scroll of Peace and Goodwill to all countries visited, and continued with the fight against Malaria through a One Net One Life Campaign. Kingsley’s most recent adventure was the Africa Rainbow Expedition – where his team sailed a traditional dhow along the east coast of Africa from Mozambique to the Kenya/Somalia border, and then back to South Africa, to distribute over 250 000 mosquito nets and other anti-malarial products in remote areas to mothers and children.

Jason Ribbink

First South African invitee to Quicksilver Eddie Aikau Big Wave Contest
For the first time ever, a South African surfer – Jason Ribbink – cracked an invite into the prestigious Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational In Memory of Eddie Aikau surfing event, held at Hawaii’s infamous big wave surfing spot, Waimea Bay. Jason’s recent explorations of new big waves spots around the globe, and ground-breaking performances in big surf, gave him the chance to be selected among a core group of international big wave surfers, including defending champion Bruce Irons, and eight-time world champion Kelly Slater. The event is held in memory of legendary big wave surfer and waterman, Hawaiin Eddie Aikau, and only goes ahead when the open-ocean swells breaking in the bay reach a minimum of 20 feet – translating to wave face heights of more than 30 feet. Given the strict wave height requirement, the event has only been held a total of seven times in 21 years.

Bill Godfrey and Peter van Kets: Rowing the Gquma Challenger across the Atlantic Ocean the fastest

On 2nd December 2007 South African rowers Bill Godfrey and Peter van Kets left the Canary Islands with their compass bearings set on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Fifty-one days later, they rowed their 7.1 metre boat, the Gquma Challenger (a Xhosa word meaning ‘roar of the ocean’) into Antigua Bay in the Caribbean, having completed a journey of just on 5 350km’s. The feat won them the pairs division of the Atlantic Rowing Race 2007 – the toughest endurance rowing race in the world. First held in 1997, the biannual Atlantic Rowing Race sees teams of four, pairs and solo rowers brave the tumultuous and unpredictable waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Teams have to propel themselves across the ocean, and are required to be self sufficient, carrying all their own food and supplies. According to the team’s website, Godfrey’s reason for taking on this challenge is much like the reason mountaineers tackle Mount Everest, ‘it’s there and it has to be done’. Indeed it did!

Lewis Gordon Pugh: Swimming to the North Pole through the freezing Arctic waters

The ‘icebear’ continues to defy imagination! Late last year, Lewis pushed human boundaries even further by swimming to the North Pole – and in so doing highlighting the effect of global warming. To quote Lewis ‘Through twenty years of record-breaking swims in the world's five oceans, I have witnessed climate change from a front row position. Today, I use my swims, and my love for the environment to raise awareness about these life-threatening changes. My mission is to inspire people to make a difference. In your world and our world.’ But then, Lewis is no stranger to accolades. He was short listed as one of OutThere Adventurer’s of the Year for 2004, for setting the record for the most northerly distance swim in the world (a 1070m swim at 80° North – just 1 100km from the North Pole), and then was also OutThere Adventurer of the Year 2005 runner-up for becoming the first person to complete a long-distance swim in all five of the worlds oceans (the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, Arctic and Southern).

Alex Harris and Sibusiso Vilane:polar trek to the Geographic south pole

From mid November 2007, the Team Extreme partnership of Alex Harris and Sibusiso Vilane did an unsupported polar trek from Hercules Inlet, on the edge of Antarctica, to the Geographic south pole. They covered just on 1200km, and both pulled 130kg sleds behind them filled with expedition gear and supplies – a style of that is considered the purest form of polar exploration. Several weeks later, after battling some of the most hostile terrain and weather conditions on the planet – where temperatures ranged from an ambient of about -8C to about -40C, and strong winds were a constant menace – the two South African explorers arrived at their destination on 17th January 2008. Alex and Sibu are no strangers to extreme feats: Amongst a host of other achievements, Alex was the second South African to conquer the Seven Summits in 2005 and Sibu was the first black South African to climb Mount Everest in 2003.